Television Show to Feature Oregon's Mustangs

Oregon is home to nearly 7% of the nation’s wild horses, which are among the most photographed in the United States.

Photo: Vince Patton/OPB

An episode of "Oregon Field Guide," slated to air Feb. 6 at 8:30 p.m. on OPB TV, will feature a half-hour special dedicated entirely to mustangs in that state. The program will be accompanied by a dynamic multimedia website launching Feb. 3 on OPB online.

Oregon is home to nearly 7% of the nation’s wild horses, which are among the most photographed in the United States. In 1971, Congress declared wild horses “living symbols of the pioneer spirit” and passed a law to protect them from “capture, branding, harassment or death.”

In this special, “Mustangs of Oregon,” "Field Guide" examines why a large number of horses are removed from the wild to live out their lives in permanent holding.

“We first began this simply as a story about teenagers who train wild horses to make them more adoptable; the story ballooned, opening a door to a larger controversy with many facets,” said "Field Guide" producer Vince Patton. “The program presents audiences with a variety of perspectives on the treatment of these mustangs—from government horse managers, wild horse advocates, ranchers, and horse lovers.”

“Mustangs of Oregon” will air Feb. 6 at 8:30 p.m. local time on OPB TV. The multimedia website will include additional videos, images, and stories about wild horses, including the tale of how an Oregon fourth grader traveled to Washington D.C. and testified to Congress to help pass the Wild Horse & Burro Act of 1971.

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